Orcs
Orcs are generally large humanoids, though they aren't necessarily always hulking strongmen as mainland rumours would suggest. Also, similarly to Goblins, the stories of them as having green skin is incorrect and is due to the tattoos of Vard tradition.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Large humanoid
Ecology and Habitats
Orcs can weather most any environment but have a strong preference for the rocky, foggy cold of their homelands and anything that emulates it. Heat is definitely less than enjoyable for them, even if it more uncomfortable than dangerous. They prefer to build their structures with slabs of stone and allow moss to grow on them without worry, but will live happily enough in structures made of other materials and in other designs.
Dietary Needs and Habits
Orcs have a fairly high-protein diet to keep up with their metabolisms, which is part of why they have an established insect cuisine and are highly skilled hunters and preservers of meat, with orc-smoked meat being the best in all of Torlas.
Additional Information
Facial characteristics
Orcs tend to have strong jaws, straight noses and sharp teeth along with tusks. Their eyes tend to all have very dark irises to the point where it is hard to distinguish between their pupils and irises. It's very common to have freckles across the bridges of their nose. Their hair is usually black and culturally pulled into many small braids.
Civilization and Culture
Naming Traditions
Traditionally, many siblings have alliterative names, with them all starting with the same letter, as it is meant to bring unity and prosperity to the family. First names are made by taking a word derived from Kalruno and adding a suffix to it: -ad for males, -al for females and -as for Scar or Katak folk. Popular prefixes include Zagr for Strength, Taft for Luck, Torv for Health, Var for Glory, Salv for Happiness and Run (pronounced Rune) for Spirituality.
For family names, most simply call themselves their mother's children. For example, Taftad Zagralson and Torval Zagraldottir. Scar or Katak individuals use the suffix 'bairn'. There are some exceptions, especially when children have parents of mixed clans or species, but this is the default.
A third name component is used when talking to anyone outside of your clan that informs them which clan you are from. It is derived by adding the suffix -nen to your clan name, which again are often derived from Kalruno. So, for example, if Torval were meeting with people outside of her clan she might introduce herself as Torval Zagraldottir Bonsternen, or 'of the Boar Stone'.
Gender Ideals
Orcs have four main genders: two that are analogous to the human ideal of men and women, Adna and Alva, and then Scar and Katak individuals. Scar means something like 'transformed' and is used to refer to those who change or abandon their originally assumed gender; Katak means something like 'whole-one' and refers to those that are born outside of the usual, encompassing both Adna and Alva traits as well as those of Scar. Both Scar and Katak are considered more spiritual than most folk, and are often the more learned amongst Orcs.
Major Language Groups and Dialects
Vardic is the main language of the Orcs, though each clan tends to have their own dialect. Kalruno, on the other hand, is an ancient language spoken by some Orcs with spiritual connotations to it. Certain professions, including most magic-users, will be able to speak, read, and write Kalruno, and words in the tongue are believed to have power even by those not taught the language.
Culture and Cultural Heritage
Elves might be considered the best at Herbcraft, but Orcs can easily boast the best overall grasp of non-magical medicine in the world. Perhaps out of necessity more than anything else, their constant struggle to survive against the wilderness of their part of the Scattered Isles has led to a very advanced grasp of anatomy and medicine. This is especially important as it is rather rare for Orcs to learn magic outside of wildspinners and the occasionally holy gifted.
Common Customs, Traditions and Rituals
One of the things most famous about Orcs is their ability to go into what is known as Frenzy or Battlerage. While this is actually somewhat common across not only all Vard but a number of other cultures and even species, for some reason people know it best in conjunction with Orcs. This may be because it visibly is passed down through family lines, and those that choose to master the Frenzy and use it at will gain specific tattoos denoting that they are true Berserkers.
Lifespan
65
Average Height
5'11-7'0
Average Physique
Most Orcs, while looking physically hardy and stocky, are not as broad-shouldered and grizzled as stories would suggest. They tend to look very tall and in fact rather lanky, and don't have chiselled muscles unless they've gone through a recent hunger.
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
Orcs tend toward a stone-like grey shade to their skin, often blending into the walls of their settlements until they're more established.
Geographic Distribution
Related Ethnicities
